Warrior in Training }{ Open

[Talwyn]

Talwyn was about to ignite in a furious rant when Ainutsa declared she felt left out, but stopped himself when he heard Cordana set the young elf straight, in a much friendlier way then he could have done. It wasn't until after he relaxed his hand that he realized just how tightly he had been clenching them. When she told her apprentice that there had been much suffering and sadness involved, he lowered his head as a sad expression formed on his face. To Talwyn, much suffering and sadness still seemed like an understatement.

"I am very casual about it but to Talwyn it is a bit more... touchy of a subject." Cordana went on and all Tal could do was nod in silence. He truly hoped the young elf noticed the subtle hints. This wasn't a topic he liked to discuss with anyone, let alone with a naive recluse that seemingly had no idea how the real world worked. He just stared at the fire until Ainutsa finally gave him a piece of her mind about his negativity and he bursted out in laughter once more. This time though it was genuinely amused laugh and certainly wasn't meant to mock her.

Shaking his head he apologized to her. "Sorry, but yeah like Cordana said, that was just a little teasing... Although despite it being meant as a joke, it holds some truth. You truly are ignorant of the outside world." As he said this, he raised his hand to prevent her from arguing with him and went on. "Don't misunderstand though, there is nothing wrong with this... and I have to admit I envy you for it. But, after all is said and done, do take this little warning to heart. You are lucky that the first person you met was an honest person such as Cordana, but you cannot trust that everyone you meet will be as friendly and honest as she is."

Having said what he wanted to say he quickly checked the deer when Cordana gave him a not to subtle hint that she was and noticing it was done gave her some of the meat while he held up another piece for Ainutsa. "While I don't see it in such a poetic way, she is right you know. The deed is already done and whatever is left after we are full will be thrown away. Which is a waste of good food. Wanting to be a vegetarian is a noble idea, but when you're traveling and training you should eat whatever and whenever you can. I am willing to bet that if you have traveled as much as Cordana and myself, there shall be a time where you'll welcome the chance of having some fresh meat to eat."

[Summerchika]

At Cordana's and Talwyn's reactions to the mention of their appearances, Ainutsa made a conscious effort to think before replying. Suppressing a sigh, Ainutsa amended her unintentional insult, remembering her grandmothers lessons on the subject. “I am sorry.” she said to both Cordana and Talwyn. “Although I know it's not an excuse, I didn't realize it was a touchy subject. I thought I was the different-looking one. I'm sorry to insult you.” she said, making a conscious effort to calm herself and take a mental step back to observe what had just taken place. Conversing with these two was very different than conversing with the animals, and much more difficult.

After retaliating in her own way, Talwyn laughed and Cordana commented about not knowing she was so negative. Truly, it was difficult to read two people at the same time. Ainutsa couldn't keep up. This time, she didn't suppress her sigh. “Although you are not as negative as Talwyn, Cordana, you are more negative than I.” she said, smiling. Negative, but kind. she thought. When Cordana revealed that Talwyn was, in fact, teasing her, and he told her that she was ignorant of the outside world, she opened her mouth to argue at the unfairness of that whole set up. Two against one. Not fair. But as he held his hand up and kept talking, she shut her mouth, mentally calming herself again. Talwyn's words were true, but it didn't mean she liked that it was true, so she merely nodded, her eyes decidedly away from the deer.

Her eyes flickered toward the deer, however, when the two wanted her to eat. Talwyn even held out a piece for her. She knew her face betrayed her shock and possibly her disgust, but she couldn't help it. “He may have given his life so that you may eat, but I can assure you, being eaten was not on his list of things to do.” Ainutsa replied, shaking. Realizing she was not as in control of her emotions as she thought she was, she took a several calming breaths so she would not insult the two again and ruin her first friendship and lose her third teacher. “You may have traveled the world more than I, and may know better what energy training and traveling will require, but this will be a lesson I will have to learn on my own. And if it is a lesson I must, unavoidably learn, I do not wish to start by eating the same deer that I talked to when there was no one else to talk with.” Ainutsa said, looking at the two, willing them to understand her side too. “My reason for not eating is not simply a 'noble idea'. I am not so petty as that to not eat what is available. I simply do not want to eat a friend.” She said this with no anger, and Ainutsa distantly realized she was pleased with herself for her calm. She hadn't had to hide her emotions since her grandmother died and she knew she was rusty.

Then, to comfort herself a bit, she planned ahead. He will not have died without cause. After they have gotten strength from him, I will bury him so that he will help the flowers and grass that he liked to eat, to grow. The knot in her throat that had been threatening to block her speech, blossomed at these thoughts, but at least the deer's life would not have been a meaningless sacrifice that Cordana and Talwyn seemed to think it would be if Ainutsa didn't eat.

[cordana]

The young elf seemed truly sorry about the fact she talked that way about the metarmophosis of Cordana and Talwyn. Cordana couldn't blame her though. Ainutsa has lived in solitution for a very long time. How could she know that the bodies of the dark elf and the human were abnormal? Cordana just friendly smiled. "It's alright. We forgive you. Don't we, Talwyn?" She said while looking at the direction of her compagnion.

With great gratitude she accepted the meat that was handed over to her. For now Cordana let the topic rest. It was better to talk about it when Ainutsa was a bit more calmed down. The dark elf took a large bite. Oh, she almost forget how tasty this was. After a few bites she looked at the young elf. "What are you going to have for dinner Ainutsa? You have to eat something." Cordana looked around to see something edible that doesn't walk around.

When her piece of meat was gone Cordana looked at Talwyn. It has been a long time since last time she saw him. And it seemed he still didn't found a way to solve his "problem". "So how is it with your mission Talwyn? Made any progress thus far?" The dark elf looked at the cursed man. The demonic aura still surrounded him. Then Cordana grabbed the flask that was hanging at her belt and took a large swig. Altough nobody could see it from the outside but inside the dark elf felt a huge swirl of power storming inside her body. Her face didn't change and kept looking at Talwyn.

[Talwyn]

Tal merely grumped a bit at Ainutsa's apology followed by a curt confirmation as Cordana prodded him to accept it. Upon seeing how distraught she was about the meat he offered her, he simply shrugged and started eating while rummaging through his pack. Pulling out an apple, he gently tossed it to her. "I'm afraid that's all I have if you refuse the deer. My apologies if this sounds... rude... but to me deers are merely a source of food during my travels. If this particular one was truly something you consider a friend, then my apologies to you."

It was crude and a bit gruff, but at least he tried to apologize to her. And, for Talwyn at least, the matter was now closed and he continued eating. Quickly swallowing the last piece of his meat, he turned to Cordana in response to her question. "Well, I'd say the fact I still look like this should provide one as observant as you with enough clues to draw a correct conclusion wouldn't you say?" Again, a slight tug at the edge of his lips showed he was joking.

"In fact, the reason I'm out here is because I got chased out of Tamasha a few weeks ago while they accused me of thievery." Before either of his companions could ask if the accusation was true he was already declining it. "I didn't steal anything of course... though I can see why they thought I was trying to. Either way... I figured it'd be best to stay away from Tamasha until the air has cleared a bit so to speak."

Taking out his sword, he started checking the blade. "So, what made you decide to take an apprentice? You never seemed like the apprenticing type to me" He asked almost absentmindedly

[Summerchika]

Relieved that her apology was accepted, Ainutsa decided the speaking less was safer. When Cordana asked her what she would eat, she merely shrugged and replied, "My grandmother left me with many experiences finding things other than meat to eat in this forest." This said, she began to think of the quickest way to get to her supplies that she had stupidly left behind when she and Cordana had left the first clearing. She knew it would be one of the more difficult-to-find dinners, considering her position and her lack of supplies.

Before she could come up with a decent plan, Talwyn tossed her an apple and apologized for the deer. It was then she realized that, even thought Talwyn seemed unapproachable and even intimidating, he was also a kind person. Her face lifted in a bright smile, her heart full of gratitude. Her spirits were lifted at his kindness in giving up more of his food to someone he did not know, especially since she had refused his offer of meat. She felt a tinge of guilt at refusing and taking more of his food, and she only knew how to express this in a furtive "Thank you" as she turned over the apple in her hands. Feeling that her thanks was lack luster, she felt the urge to add to it. "You are very kind. I hope that, at some point, you will allow me to make it up to you, perhaps with one of my grandmother's recipes?" she said, taking a bite of the sweet apple.

Absorbed in the apple that was her dinner, she listened to Cordana's and Talwyn's conversing as if it were the comforting background noise of animal chatter that she was so used to. She listened in interest and amusement to Talywn's thieving adventure in Tamasha. When he asked about Cordana's decision to take on Ainutsa as an apprentice, Ainutsa's ears perked. She, too, was interested, now that Talwyn had mentioned his surprise at Cordana's decision. She continued to work at the apple, making the sweetness last as long as she could, listening intently for Cordana's response.

[cordana]

A feint smile appeared on Cordana's lips when Talwyn accepted Ainutsa's apology. Altough the young man didn't show it he was actually a kind person, although he wouldn't ever admit it himself. Talwyn proved that fact again when he offered an apple to the young elf. Cordana was glad that the two of them got along wel.

When Talwyn made a small joke about the fact he didn't made any real progress in his quest to get normal again the dark elf smirked. Like always she to would reply with a joke to lighten the mood. "Well excuse, but my eyes aren't what they used to be either." The dark elf couldn't keep herself serious after saying that and bursted out in laughter.

But when they asked why Cordana was taking an apprentice she quiet down. Before speaking she took a swig from the flask from her belt. A thick black fluid escaped from the corners of her mouth. With the back of her hand she swiped it away. Inside Cordana felt the massive demonic energies building up in her body. "Everyone changes after a while." A feint smile appeared on her lips. "At a certain age some things become more important." The dark elf rubbed her left arm. Her muscles grew more and more painfull when the months passed by. "I guess even someone like me is still affected by age." The dark elf spoke on a soft tone.

[Talwyn]

Immediately Tal's mind snapped to the present. There was no mistaking the concern in his voice. "Are you alright? You're not ill are you?" Putting his sword away it was obvious he was not liking the way this conversation was going. He had few friends, indeed it seemed he was well underway in making a new friend, Cordana was special to him. She was the only one that truly understood him, the only one that could.

((OOC: Sorry for the shortness, but I'm kinda stuck here =\ Tal is worried about Cordana, suddenly making him change the subject would be weird ))

[Summerchika]

Cordana's and Talwyn's joking about their differences in appearance made Ainutsa confused. She could not mention it, yet they willingly joked about it? She had come to the opinion that the subject was taboo, yet it wasn't for them. Maybe it is because they both share differences that they can talk about it jokingly. she hypothesized. Still, she was confused - their words and actions contradicting each other; she had learned her lesson before, however, and would not bring up the subject again, no matter how much it didn't make sense to her.

Having spaced off a bit, Ainutsa almost missed Cordana's subtle hint of her problem in her answer. It was Talwyn's reaction that made Ainutsa register what Cordana had implied. Eyes wide with shock, she leaned forward worriedly to hear Cordana's response. Her first friend already ill? Would Ainutsa lose another person in her life without even really getting to know her? Perhaps she was over-exaggerating, having just met Cordana, but Ainutsa didn't want to lose anyone else, no matter how long or short a time she had known them. Still, seeing as Cordana was the only one she knew, besides Talwyn now, perhaps she was right in her frantic response.

Seeing Talwyn's response, however, made Ainutsa feel silly. Talwyn and Cordana had a deep bond, to which was not something Ainutsa could easily relate or compare. Her concern did not soften, but she refrained from speaking, not wanting to insult their bond by her frantic concern. She could not calm down her reaction, so she silenced her voice, her face and body radiating worry instead.

[cordana]

The smile on Cordanas face never ceased to exist. It was only old age. Everyone is affected by it and with that train of thought in her mind she embraced what would be her fate. "Don't worry." She said to her compagnions. As ever her voice was soft and sweet. "Old age comes for everyone eventually. Not even elves are immortal." Then the dark elf looked at her arms and her spiked tail was swinging softly on the ground.

"Still I think my rather "exotic" lifestyle has sped up the aging a bit." A small sigh came from the dark elf female's lips. "Still, I should have around a century." More than enough time to wrap things up." If Cordana would still have eyes they would be gratefull, but sad. And it was reflected in her voice. "Afterall. I promised to help you. Didn't I Talwyn?" Her head turned to her human friend and slowly to Ainutsa. "And ofcourse there is your training." She looked at the young elf.

Altough Cordana wouldn't show it the situation was actually a bit more serious. The fel blood was starting to take it's toll on the dark elf's body. If she was an ordinary human she would've collapsed already of the pain. Luckily the elf magic aided her to keep her strenght and her willpower kept her going. "So where should we be going after this?" Cordana asked trying to change the subject.